Alicia Bierzynski Niederriter, formerly of Mountain Top, went to be with the Lord on Thursday, August 29, 2013, at her home in Cape Canaveral, Fla.

Future funeral arrangements will be announced by her family.

William L. Baker Jr.

Former Resident

William “Bill” Laurance Baker Jr., 90, died Sept. 4, 2013, in Fellowship Community, Whitehall, surrounded by his family. He was the husband of Elizabeth “Bettieann” Ann (Kos) Baker, who died in 2010, for 55 and 1/2 years. He was a son of the late William Laurance Sr. and Jeanette Minerva (Jessup) Baker and was predeceased by his brother, Donald Baker, in 2010. Born in Sheridan, Ind., he was a former resident of Mountain Top, Pa., Columbus, Ohio, and Sheridan.

A 1952 graduate of Bowling Green (Ohio) State University with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education, he met his wife there and was a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity. He was a sales coordinator for St. Regis Paper Co. before retiring in 1984. Previously, he was a national representative for Sigma Chi. He was a 1941 graduate of Columbus North High School.

He was a Navy veteran of World

War II, serving as a Pharmacist’s Mate, 1st Class, primarily in the Asiatic Pacific Theater, 1942-47, and later served in the Navy Reserve as a Hospital Corpsman, 1st Class, 1947-55.

He was a member of the American Legion and the Civil War Trust. He was a big fan of Dale Earnhart Sr.

Born in Hazleton, July 24, 1952, he was the son of the late Nicholas and Frances (Marshlick) Bereznak and spent most of his life in Drums. He did, however, spend some of his younger years in Germany and Kentucky, and also spent some time in Hughesville.

Brez, along with his wife, Diane, was a Social Club Manager and Caretaker at Highland Lake Manor Social Club, Hughesville, and Valley Regional and Butler Twp. fire companies. He also previously worked as a chimney sweep for Cherry Ridge and Mr. Chips Chimney Services.

He was a life member of the Butler Township Fire Company. He was also a member of the Highland Lake Manor Social Club and the Sons of the VFW. He enjoyed hunting, NASCAR and football.

He was preceded in death, in addition to his parents, by a brother, Frank.

Surviving are his wife, the former Diane Shelhamer, to whom he would have been married 18 years on Sept. 23, however, they had been together for 29 years; two sons, David, Ebervale, and Brian, Hazleton; a granddaughter, Cambria; two sisters, JoAnn Eckrote, Hazleton, and Nicholene Kokiko and her husband, Andrew, Drums; three brothers, David and his wife Judi, Fort Worth, Fla.; Paul and his wife, Patrice, Powhatan, Va.; and Michael and his wife, Deena, Tomhicken; and many nieces and nephews.

His funeral will be held at 11 a. m. Wednesday at Harman Funeral Homes & Crematory Inc. (East), 669 W. Butler Drive, Drums. Burial will follow in Drums Community Cemetery. Friends may call from 6 to 9 p. m. Tuesday at the funeral home.

Memorial donations can be made to Fox Chase Cancer Center, 333 Cottman Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19111-2497, or online at www.fccc.edu.Harman Funeral Homes & Crematory Inc. (East), 669 W. Butler Drive, Drums, is assisting the family with the arrangements. Online condolences can be entered and more information is available at www.harmanfuneral.com.